普遍性

• Reading: ふへんせい
• Romaji: fuhensei
• Kanji breakdown: 普 (fu) — widespread, universal; 遍 (hen) — everywhere, throughout; 性 (sei) — quality, nature
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.hen.seː/

Meaning

Universality; generality. The quality of applying across all cases, contexts, or conditions without exception.

Used in science, philosophy, and mathematics to describe laws, principles, or truths that hold regardless of specific circumstances. A theory gains credibility through its 普遍性 — the ability to explain phenomena across diverse situations. Contrasted with 特殊性 (particularity). Central to discussions of scientific methodology and philosophical epistemology.

Examples

1. ニュートンの運動法則は古典力学において高い普遍性を持つとされてきた。 Newton's laws of motion have long been regarded as having high universality within classical mechanics.
2. 文化の違いを超えた道徳の普遍性については、哲学者の間で長年議論が続いている。 Philosophers have long debated the universality of morality across cultural differences.
3. この数学的証明の普遍性は、あらゆる実数に対して成立することを示している。 The universality of this mathematical proof shows that it holds for all real numbers.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, science, mathematics, ethics

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

Compound of 普遍 (universal, ubiquitous) + 性 (quality). 普 means widespread and 遍 means throughout. Introduced into Japanese via Meiji-era translations of Western philosophy.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji–Modern

Generation: Adults (academic)

Social background: Academic/Professional